Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Probiotics are found in various fermented foods, such as yogurt, cheese, and sauerkraut. They can also be taken as supplements. The most common probiotics belong to the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera.
The human gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is home to a large number of microbes, which outnumber human cells by 10-to-1. The composition of this so-called microbiome changes over the course of a lifetime and is influenced by many factors, including diet, age, lifestyle, medications, and disease. Probiotics are thought to modulate the composition and activity of the GIT microbiome in a beneficial way.
There is evidence to suggest that probiotics may help prevent or treat a variety of conditions and diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), infectious diarrhea (caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites), antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), traveler’s diarrhea; Helicobacter pylori infection; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); atopic dermatitis (eczema); urinary tract infections (UTIs); vaginal yeast infections; and Helicobacter pylori infection – one of the main causes of stomach ulcers. Additionally, there is some evidence that certain probiotic strains may boost immunity and improve respiratory tract infections.
Although more research is needed to understand how exactly probiotics work – especially which specific strains are most effective for which conditions – it is clear that these “good” bacteria offer important health benefits.